MRO & VMI Leader: Drive Spare Parts & Uptime

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, and industrial systems. We fabricate custom designed, purpose-built enclosures and skids for our customers and perform mechanical and electrical integration in-house, delivering a true turn-key product to our customers. Our scope spans Engineering, prototype builds, through full production, requiring teams that can move fast, adapt, and execute with precision. GTI Values: Safey I Quality I Customer Obsession I Speed I Agility Position Overview GTI Energy is seeking an MRO / VMI Leader to own procurement and supplier management for maintenance, repair, and operating supplies supporting plant operations. This role is responsible for sourcing critical spare parts, managing supplier relationships, driving cost control, ensuring material availability, and optimizing Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs across assigned facilities. The MRO / VMI Leader will work closely with Maintenance, Operations, Facilities, Supply Chain, and Finance teams to minimize downtime risk, improve service levels, and reduce indirect spend. This role requires urgency, commercial discipline, supplier management capability, and strong understanding of plant support material categories. Key Responsibilities MRO Procurement Ownership Own end-to-end procurement of maintenance, repair, and operating supplies including spare parts, motors, bearings, belts, sensors, valves, pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical components, tooling, PPE, lubricants, janitorial, and facility materials Source urgent breakdown parts needed to restore equipment uptime and minimize production disruption Issue purchase orders, monitor acknowledgements, and ensure timely delivery of critical materials Manage recurring replenishment orders for stocked MRO categories and plant support supplies Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Program Management Lead VMI supplier programs for fasteners, consumables, vending machines, stocked bins, safety supplies, and maintenance materials Hold VMI suppliers accountable for fill rates, replenishment frequency, pricing, and service responsiveness Review usage trends and optimize stocking models to improve availability while reducing excess inventory Expand or redesign VMI programs where beneficial to improve plant efficiency and reduce transactional workload Supplier Management & Commercial Execution Build strong supplier relationships while driving accountability on cost, lead time, quality, and delivery Negotiate pricing, terms, blanket agreements, rebates, and service commitments for MRO categories Identify alternate suppliers for constrained, obsolete, or overpriced materials Evaluate supplier capabilities and recommend consolidation or strategic sourcing opportunities Plant Uptime & Maintenance Partnership Partner daily with Maintenance and Facilities teams to understand upcoming shutdowns, PM schedules, capital installs, and equipment risk areas Help define critical spare part strategies for bottleneck assets and high-risk production equipment Prioritize procurement activity based on uptime impact and operational urgency Respond quickly to emergency maintenance requests requiring same-day or expedited sourcing solutions Inventory, Cost Control & Working Capital Collaborate with MRO Coordinators and plant teams to maintain healthy stock levels without excessive inventory investment Reduce duplicate SKUs, obsolete inventory, and unmanaged spot-buy activity Support inventory turns, spend visibility, and budget adherence for indirect categories Drive standardization of commonly used parts, consumables, and supplier catalogs Cross-Functional Collaboration Work with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies, receipts issues, and supplier billing disputes Partner with Supply Chain leadership on sourcing strategies and supplier performance reviews Support Engineering and Reliability teams on new equipment spare part lists, manuals, and startup material readiness Coordinate with Receiving and Warehouse teams on inbound priority shipments and urgent deliveries Continuous Improvement & Risk Reduction Identify recurring emergency buys and partner with Maintenance to implement stocking or preventive solutions Use Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, and structured problem solving to reduce downtime caused by material shortages Improve procurement processes, supplier responsiveness, and purchase cycle times Support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives across indirect spend categories Metrics & Reporting Track KPIs including supplier on-time delivery, emergency buy frequency, stockouts, cost savings, lead time reduction, VMI service levels, and inventory turns Build reports and dashboards for leadership visibility into MRO spend and supplier performance Maintain accurate ERP purchasing data, supplier records, and open PO status Safety & Compliance Ensure purchased materials meet safety, quality, and operational specifications Support compliant sourcing of chemicals, lubricants, PPE, and regulated materials where required Maintain documentation aligned with internal controls and purchasing policies Requirements Required Qualifications 3–7+ years of experience in purchasing, buying, procurement, or supply chain roles Experience purchasing MRO, maintenance, indirect, facilities, or industrial support categories Experience in manufacturing, plant operations, distribution, or industrial environments Strong negotiation, supplier management, and cost control skills ERP / MRP experience Strong Excel and analytical skills High urgency, ownership mentality, and strong communication skills Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting fabrication, welding, automation, assembly, or industrial manufacturing plants Background managing Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) suppliers such as Fastenal, Grainger, MSC, Motion, Applied, or similar providers Knowledge of industrial spare parts including motors, drives, bearings, pneumatics, hydraulics, controls, and maintenance consumables APICS, CPSM, CPM, Lean Six Sigma, or related certifications preferred Experience supporting multi-site plant operations preferred Benefits & Perks GTI Energy offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees and their families while providing long-term career growth opportunities within a fast-growing manufacturing organization. Benefits may include: Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match (where applicable) Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays Sick time in accordance with state and local requirements Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage Career advancement opportunities within a rapidly growing organization Exposure to advanced manufacturing, modular infrastructure, and large-scale industrial projects Collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong operational and engineering leadership Employee-focused culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on position, location, and employment classification. GTI promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. We also value the safety of all employees and work hard to maintain a Drug Free Workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr Gtifabrication